Woodstock men charged in 'bath salts' investigation

CRYSTAL LAKE – After a two-month undercover investigation into the sale of the synthetic drug commonly known as bath salts, two Woodstock men have been arrested and charged.

On Monday, members of the McHenry County Sheriff’s office conducted a traffic stop on a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier in the area of Route 14 and Dole Avenue in Crystal Lake.

Inside the car were 220 capsules of bath salts with an estimated street value of $2,300, according to a news release. An additional 10 capsules had been bought from the men previously, police said.

The driver, 25-year-old Ryan A. Crotty of 210 Clover Chase Circle, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

A passenger in the car, Andrew J. Jacobs, 24, of 348 Madison St., also was charged with similar counts. He is on conditional discharge, court records show, for resisting a peace officer and had outstanding arrest warrants for misdemeanor charges of theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Muraski said the department has investigated only two cases involving bath salts over the past two years – and the other also involved Crotty.

“I don’t want to call it a trend,” he said. “You’re seeing more of it in the media than we’re actually seeing on the street, but you do see it here and there.”

In this case, the drug was being distributed in capsule form with a powder inside that then is ingested, often under the tongue, Muraski said. It is not made up of an actual bath salt, such as epsom salt.

“Our understanding is it gives you the same effects as amphetamines, whether it’s methamphetamine or ecstasy,” Muraski said.

Both Crotty and Jacobs remained in the McHenry County jail on Tuesday. Crotty needed to post $12,500 to be released; Jacobs needed $13,300.

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